Iowa sent a Red Cross emergency response vehicle (ERV) to Texas to help victims of Hurricane Dean. Marlys DeVries says, as it turns out, the greater demand for the vehicle was here in Iowa. DeVries, who works for the Red Cross chapter in Des Moines, says the Fort Dodge based ERV was in Austin, Texas.
Today, the ERV returned to Fort Dodge to help local flood victims. Red Cross volunteers are scattered around north-central and northwest Iowa, delivering clean up kits. The kits contain a broom, a mop, a bucket, cleaning solution, and gloves, among other items. With more rain in the forecast, the Red Cross could end up housing some evacuees.
"We do plan on opening a shelter tonight in Fort Dodge," DeVries says, "and we’ll have that open for a couple of days." DeVries says details were still being worked out, but the shelter will be located somewhere on the campus of Iowa Central Community College.